Imagine trying to explain this day to someone who hadn't seen it. "You know the kid nobody had heard of, batting at No11? Yeah, he almost scored a century. And the last-wicket pair put on 160-odd, I can't really remember. And then Trott got a first-baller. No, he might have hit it, he might not, but the decision was overturned. Yeah, I'm not sure why. Oh, and I forgot, but the kid could have been given out stumped when he had six. Yes, he does look quite a lot like that golfer."

Richard Hetherington: "Because an aga is a type of oven. I think this Agar should be called 'the pressure cooker'."

Peter Holland: "Young Agar should be from the French agacer - ANNOYING, TO ANNOY"

There we go. England need to bat all day tomorrow. That's the rub of it, really. Any less and Australia will have to chase 250 or fewer on a pitch that might be turning but hasn't really offered too much to the seamers, especially in that final session. Tyers will be with you bright and early tomorrow morning. Thanks for reading. Hi, I'm Ed Winchester. See you soon.

OVER 43: ENG 80/2 (Cook 37* Pietersen 35*) Last over of the day. Siddle drops it short, and Pietersen rather shocks everyone by pulling it. It's only a single out to deep square leg, but Pietersen has been letting those whistle past his nose all day. Just a single off the over, then and at stumps England lead by 15 runs.

OVER 42: ENG 79/2 (Cook 37* Pietersen 34*) Here comes Shane Watson to bowl the penultimate over the of the day, with Phil Hughes coming in under Cook's nose at silly point. This is probably something Clarke's heard about at one of those captaincy seminars he presumably attends. It's a maiden over.

Lyn Samways: "Not sure about a nickname but our bowlers definitely had Agaraphobia!"

OVER 41: ENG 79/2 (Cook 37* Pietersen 34*) Pietersen is doing an excellent job of reining himself in here. He's playing straight into the V between mid-on and mid-off, ducking the short balls and not nibbling at anything outside off. A wicket now would almost certainly bring in Steven Finn as nightwatchman on a king pair. Pietersen plays out a maiden.

OVER 40: ENG 79/2 (Cook 37* Pietersen 34*) Agar to Cook. It's a maiden. We'll continue to play until 6.30pm, which means we'll probably get another three overs in. Perhaps four.

Mark Rochford: "Ashton Aghast. As in how we were all left feeling earlier when this 'precocious talent' (snore…) romped to nearly a hundred against supposedly some of the best bowlers in the world…"

OVER 39: ENG 79/2 (Cook 37* Pietersen 34*) Here comes Siddle, replacing Starc, and he's quite capable of breaking the stalemate. Six balls bang on the money, but Pietersen is solid in defence there. A maiden over, and England still lead by only 14.

OVER 38: ENG 79/2 (Cook 37* Pietersen 34*) Cook's getting well outside off-stump to play Agar, and then trying to nudge the ball to leg. He gets a single, and then Pietersen cuts square to the man in the deep for another single. What do we make of Agar's action? Strikes me as a guy with a bad back trying to impersonate a left-arm spinner.

OVER 37: ENG 77/2 (Cook 36* Pietersen 33*) Just a single off that over. Bob in Nocton suggests "Agar the 'Orrible". Strong entry.

OVER 36: ENG 76/2 (Cook 35* Pietersen 33*) Pietersen flicks Agar through mid-wicket – a little uppishly – but gets three runs from it. Cook then late cuts, and gets plenty of bat on it, sending it through gully for four. Eight off the over.

OVER 35: ENG 68/2 (Cook 30* Pietersen 30*) An appeal for leg-before as Pietersen shuffles across his stumps and gets clipped on the pad. But Starc's angle, the left-armer coming around the wicket, was always going to take that down the leg side.

Some of your emails.

Peter Harris: “I suggest Darth Agar – from Darth Vadar, originally a Jedi and nominated The Chosen One destined to bring stability to The Force – until he fell to the dark side.”

Gavin Broad: “Actually, my son IS called Stuart - but, alas, not the same chap.”

Adrian Moss: “It has to be 'Jelly'. The stuff you put in lab dishes to act as a growth medium for bacteria. You can get some surprising results. Yours, hot, bothered and somewhat aghast at events, watching from windy St Lucia.”

Yaffel: “How about Pineapple? As in Agar do do do.... I’ll get my coat.”

Peter Rowntree: “Has anyone else noted the amazing attritional rate that has occurred on fellow-cricketers since KPs comback. Not that I am blaming 'Our Kev' for any of this, poor lad gets blamed for enough!! But look at this against Yorkshire - Patterson broken toe, Ryan Sidebottom strained back, Gary Ballance stood down for T20 duty; against the Essex XI, Tymal Mills the bowler England wanted to practice against unable to bowl in the second innings and at least two other bowlers crocked; here to date - Ed Cowan sick on the first day, Stubro shoulder injury. A quite amazing set of concidences I guess.”

Lanky: "This reminds me of the days when Geoffrey Boycott proudly scored one run every 20 overs and still claimed he was not out and doing a job for England. Boring is as boring does with Ali Cook and co so I'm watching India play Sri Lanka in the hope of something interesting happening. By the way, a good nickname for Agar would be 'Petri' - (as in petri dish, brush up your microbiology) - sounds Mediterranean and matches his 'dashing good looks'."

OVER 34: ENG 67/2 (Cook 30* Pietersen 29*) Leading edge! Drops safe! Cook's looked far from comfortable against Agar at times, and his strategy of trying to play everything to leg leaves him vulnerable to the one that just stops in the pitch a little. Here, meanwhile, is Australia's First-Choice Spinner, Nathan Lyon.

OVER 33: ENG 67/2 (Cook 30* Pietersen 29*) Starc comes around the wicket to Pietersen, possibly trying to swing one in through the gate. Pietersen does have an awfully large gate. If it were a literal gate, he would probably pimp it with diamonds and emblazon the words 'BOOM' and '#TEAMADIDAS' all over it. Maiden over.

OVER 32: ENG 67/2 (Cook 30* Pietersen 29*) England pootling along at not much more than two an over, but you'll hear no complaints about that tonight. There seems to be a recognition that this sort of twelve-hour brain surgery is exactly what England need right now. Still, Cook still knows a bad ball when he sees one, and drives Agar out of the rough and through the covers for his first boundary in 100 minutes. And England are in the lead! The next ball rips out of the footmarks, rears up and catches Cook on the glove, and Haddin can't quite get down in time to grab it.

This from Paul Jenkins in Cape Town: "In response to your request for a nickname for the Aussie 11th man: Phoenix (of the Ashes)"

OVER 31: ENG 63/2 (Cook 26* Pietersen 29*) Cook steals the strike with a single off his hips. A few overs back, Pietersen stepped away from the crease, unhappy at some sort of distraction from the press box. Given his relationship with the media over the years, this is hardly surprising.

OVER 30: ENG 62/2 (Cook 25* Pietersen 29*) Agar to Pietersen, and that's a drop by Haddin first ball! To be fair to Haddin, that was a big deviation, and he probably didn't have time to get hands to the ball before it thudded into his right pad. Worrying from Pietersen, who tried to nudge that with the same skew-whiff twiddle of the blade that generally presages a humiliating dismissal to a left-arm spinner. He responds by smacking Agar through the covers for four. That brings up the 50 partnership, and England now trail by just three runs.

OVER 28: ENG 57/2 (Cook 24* Pietersen 25*) Siddle finally gets Cook to nibble at one outside off. That's a moral victory, although you can't chalk those up in Wisden. (If you could, Andrew Flintoff would probably be in there somewhere.) Meanwhile, some NEWS! England have asked ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle for clarification over Jonathan Trott's dismissal, the ECB have confirmed. Oh, golly. Let it go, lads.

OVER 27: ENG 57/2 (Cook 24* Pietersen 25*) Just a fraction short from Pattinson, and Cook plays a controlled pull shot in front of square for two runs. Pietersen then drives beautifully, imperiously, insouciantly, straight down the ground for four. That, ladies and gents, was some cricket shot. And this, ladies and gents, is some beer snake.

David Lowe: "Maybe not a nickname but an acronym. A Giant Ashes Rescue."

OVER 26: ENG 50/2 (Cook 21* Pietersen 21*) Hi, everyone. Siddle still trying to frustrate Cook outside off stump like a bored kid trying to get their dad's attention.

"Dad." "Dad." "Dad." "Dad." "Dad." "Dad." "Hey, dad." "Dad." "Dad."

Having studiously tried to ignore this irritating little brat for as long as possible, Dad finally snaps.

OVER 25: ENG 49/2 (Cook 20* Pietersen 21*) Pattinson minor in to bowl to KP, he's got a slip, a gully and a straight silly mid on. Another tight maiden and what better time to hand you over to Mr Jonathan Liew for a spell?

OVER 24: ENG 49/2 (Cook 20* Pietersen 21*) Just a single off the Siddle-Pietersen over. It's almost like both sides have gone "STOP THE INSANITY" and decided to slow the game down for a bit. Maybe their mums have got tickets for Sunday.

Marc Melander: "I can't really help with a long term nickname for the youth but based on today's performance you could arguably tag him 'AA Rescue' for the day."

OVER 23: ENG 48/2 (Cook 20* Pietersen 20*) James Pattinson returns from the Pavilion End and deals a maiden to Cook, who leaves it like he was me presented with a goats cheese and tomato salad ie with DISGUST.

Your Agar suggestions.

"Garth. As in 'Garth Algar' from Wayne's World," says James Foster.

Dan Brooks says: "Watching the game blog in Austin, TX, slightly glad that I didn't make too much of a fuss of the Lions win last weekend. Never count the Aussies out, especially in an Ashes series. As for nicknames... Agar the 'Orrible? Petri? (as in a dish filled with agar jelly, especially as we definitely had our fill of Agar this morning). Fair play to the lad, but, really? Almost a ton on a test debut? Really?"

Andrew Holgate: "Jelly. Given his stint at the crease the name would be ironic."

Meanwhile, both Robert Highfield and Gavin Broad - I assume the latter is no relation to England's Stuart - both say: "Well said Leo McKinstry."

OVER 22: ENG 48/2 (Cook 20* Pietersen 20*) Aussies have a plan, and they're sticking to it. England are not for turning just at the moment, though. Siddle with an over outside off to KP. Maiden. Cook has faced 61 balls, KP 41... On the subject of defensiveness - or rather, apparent defensiveness - my man Jonathan Liew has come up with a killer stat. Eh voila. Take that, Trott haterz.

Leo McKinstry: "The amazing last wicket stand by Australia shows to me how over-rated Steve Finn is. He not nearly as quick as is often suggested, doesn't have a grooved action, and, worst of all, bowls far too short. Remember England won the Ashes in 2010/11 once he had been dropped. I cannot understand why Chris Tremlett is not the in side. By all accounts he is bowling superbly for Surrey at the minute and he was the best pace bowler v Australian last time round."

OVER 20: ENG 48/2 (Cook 20* Pietersen 20*) Siddle. Glorious from KP. As Strauss says "no better shot in the game of cricket, and Pietersen plays it very well." It purrs back past the bowler for four. At The Oval, Surrey have declared and RIcky Ponting walks off 169*. Leg. End.

OVER 19: ENG 44/2 (Cook 20* Pietersen 16*) Shane Watson into the attack. He and Pup stomach each other's company for long enough to talk through their plan to Cook which is: two slips, gap at extra cover, keep it full and hang it outside off stump, wait for Cook to make a mistake. None in this over. Maiden.

Richard Whitehouse: "This all makes pretty depressing reading from Dublin, where the locals are laughing themselves silly about our travails. We really don't wear the favourites tag very well do we. I still think we'll win over 5 Tests, but I think we should liberally throw cricket balls all over the warm up areas before the start of the next 4 games, it worked in 2005."

OVER 18: ENG 44/2 (Cook 20* Pietersen 16*) Change of bowling as Poidersiddle comes into the attack. Too wide to Cook, and he leaves happily. Trying to tempt him into the drive that got him out in the first dig.

OVER 17: ENG 43/2 (Cook 19* Pietersen 16*) Lahverly shot from KP as he drives Ashton Agar through cover for four. We are trying to think of a better nickname for him than his team-bestowed moniker of "Scotty". Apparently he looks like the golfer Adam Scott. Jeez louise. That is pathetic, right? So far: Posh Cooker (Aga-r). Ashton Giles (useful bat down the order, not very threatening left-arm spinner). Knowing Me, Knowing You, Agar?

PLEASE HELP.

Peter Holland: "Still shellshocked at the boy scoring 98 and putting Aussies now in a possible winning position by trouncing our experienced quickies, it's all too much. I am still at a loss, please someone explain, why in his 1st over he never got a ball up each nostril, 3 in the blockhole, and the 6th up under his ribcage? We seemingly always find a way to lose or self destruct."

OVER 16: ENG 38/2 (Cook 19* Pietersen 12*) Not so good from Starc in this over. Drops it short, Cook cuts for two. Tries a tired bouncer, Cook pulls with ease for a couple.

OVER 15: ENG 34/2 (Cook 15* Pietersen 12*) And talking of ego, here is Pietersen to face Agar. He STILL refuses to admit that he has a problem against left arm spin. It's a bit like that Neil Clough article on The Apprentice last night. "Your business plan just will not work." "Yes it will. I know I can make it work." REPEAT TIMES 100. After a single to Cook, KP gets a look at the left-armer. Nice sweep for four.

OVER 14: ENG 29/2 (Cook 14* Pietersen 8*) Enjoyable cricket still, but a bit more thinky than the previous stuff today. Clarke has got a nice trap set for KP. Plenty of slips, but space in front of the bat on the fofside. Mitchell Starc slinging the ball across Kev from over the wicket, inviting him to have a drive, playing on his ego. KP circumspect so far, one firm shot into the offside for two.

John Marshsall: "Sky Sports haven’t lost us the Ashes – you have. Quite obviously you mentioned to someone this morning, round about over 35, how well England were doing, thus invoking your now famous gift of the commentator’s curse."

OVER 13: ENG 27/2 (Cook 14* Pietersen 6*) The hero of the hour, Ashton Agar, now gets a chance with the ball. This is a decent over to Cook, who is looking to come across his stumps, get outside the line and work it to leg. Might be worth getting a leg slip in to go with the short leg, just in case one ball does pop. Cook taking no chances at all. Maiden.

OVER 12: ENG 27/2 (Cook 14* Pietersen 6*) Good tight stuff from Starc, just one ball to Cook is a little leg-sidey, he clips that for one. Hey, this is a nice piece on Billy The Banned Trumpeter by Ben Riley-Smith.

OVER 11: ENG 26/2 (Cook 13* Pietersen 6*) I reckon Patto Pattinson is drifting that ball in a bit, a bit of early reverse? Surely too early. Anyhoo, good bowling, nice and full. Overpitches one ball to KP, who drives it back down the ground for four. But that's the game, no doubt.

OVER 10: ENG 22/2 (Cook 13* Pietersen 2*) Good over from MItchell Starc, nice and full to Cook. The England captain has gone into his shell, knowing that we can ill-afford another wicket here. Interesting on the side-on Hotspot for the Trott wicket... It had been used for the Root wicket just before. They were preparing it to play that wicket for TV viewers and the machine cannot record while it is playing. So it was unable to capture the Trott incident. And so, I think it is fair to conclude, SKY SPORTS HAVE LOST US THE ASHES.

Peter Rowntree: "Australia's opening bowlers inspired by that last wicket partnership between Hughes and Agar. They were bound to be steaming in in the short sessión before tea, and unfortunately England will have another ten tense overs after tea when their bowlers will come out fresh again. England have to dig very deep here and hold on - they need large scores from at least two of their remaining top six players."

OVER 9: ENG 19/2 (Cook 12* Pietersen 1*) Golly, if England feel they haven't had much luck today, then Cook has had a bit here. A bottom edge pull goes for four, and then an outside edge gives him a boundary through the slips. To be fair, he played it with soft hands.

16.00 Afternoon all, Tyers here. What a day! England are up against it. Here come Cook and Pietersen. Pattinson will bowl. Just a quick word on that Trott review: they do have a side-on Hot Spot camera but I understand it wasn't working. That would probably have saved Trott.

15.57 It's been a weird, Dadaist sort of day. A day on which many Englishmen were willing an Australian to get a century. After that last-wicket stand from Australia, a passage of play that evoked a computer game in which one of the cheat codes had been entered, England then lost Joe Root to misfortune and Jonathan Trott to DRS. I'm not anywhere close to be able to processing those first two sessions. Perhaps Alan Tyers will be able to have a stab. Here he is.

15.54 By the way, Snicko indicates a thin noise just as Trott's bat passes his pad. Nothing as the ball passes the bat. That would seem to suggest he didn't hit it.

15.50 A lot of you will be familiar with the work of cricket charity Chance to Shine. While the Ashes are going on, their chairman Adrian Beecroft has pledged to double (i.e. match) all donations made while the Ashes are still in play. This, by any standard, is an extremely generous offer from a man you suspect is probably quite rich. Anyway, more details on their website.

15.48 Some more on Ashton Agar. It's now well known that just a couple of months ago, he was playing for Henley in Berkshire Straw Hat and Boaters League. Bjorn Mordt, his captain there, had this to say about him.

I'm not surprised at all by Ashton's first innings in Test cricket. He batted fourth for us. When he came across to Henley he was batting six or seven for Western Australia. We gave him an opportunity at the top of the order and in his first game he got 65.

He was very confident. It was a warm-up game against Aston Rowant, and the first time I'd seen him bat. He hit the ball very clean: he was very strong down the ground, wasn't scared to go aerial and hit lots of balls back over long off. He just was a really good climber of the cricket ball.

Ashton was good on both the short ball and anything on the stumps. He didn't appear to have too many weaknesses. He always committed and was very forceful when he batted. I remmeber he was really good going back over the bowler's head. He didn't really use his feet much, just stood there and hit the ball cleanly.

Ashton's a quietly confident lad. He's not brash or arrogant and he definitely seems a lot older than he is. For a 19-year-old kid I remember thinking this guy's got an unbelievable cricket brain and he's obviously just settled into Test cricket quite easily. The way he's batted today has just been unbelievable. He's got Australia back into the game.

We definitely saw him as an all-rounder, so I was quite surprised to see him batting number 11 for Australia. I knew he could bat and he's obviously shown that now. I don't think you'll see him batting 11 for Australia again.

<noframe>Twitter: Michael Vaughan - Wow... Full credit Australia... England might need <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JimmyAnderson97" target="_blank">@JimmyAnderson97</a> to be the first No 11 to score a 100 at this rate....</noframe>

15.45 While you're eating your crumpets and Vegemite (or whatever it is people have for tea these days), you can watch highlights of the opening session here.

TEA

WICKET! Trott lbw b Starc 0 FIRST BALL! Trott's gone first ball! Given not out by Aleem Dar, reviewed immediately by Michael Clarke and hitting middle stump about a third of the way up! Trott got himself into all sorts of trouble there, not getting far enough forward, and getting trapped by the late swing. It really was a gorgeous delivery by Starc, but the question was whether Trott hit it. The look of disbelief as the decision was overturned suggests he did. But Hot Spot shows a clear white mark on the pad, suggesting that the second noise was bat on pad, not bat on ball. That's tea, and England are in deep trouble. They're 11/2.

WICKET! Root c Haddin b Starc 5 Strangled down the leg side! It was only half an appeal from Australia - Haddin was the only one who seemed remotely enthusiastic - but clearly he and Aleem Dar heard something that nobody else did. Dar thought for a few seconds before raising the finger, and the fact that Root went to consult Alastair Cook rather than reviewing it instantly was a sign that he knew he'd hit it. ENG 11/1

OVER 7: ENG 10/0 (Cook 3* Root 5*) Root's forward with soft hands, edges, and gets four in between slips and gully! That went to ground, so no chance of a catch. Another stat-ette that you might like: for the third innings in a row, Australia's bottom three have outscored their top three. This year, meanwhile, Starc has made 99 from No9 and Agar 98 from No11. No top-three batsman has even reached 90 so far in 2013.

OVER 6: ENG 6/0 (Cook 3* Root 1*) That's kept low from Starc, beating Root outside off stump. Just a single and a bye off that over. It's been a quiet, almost soporific start, like the Muzak they play as you leave the cinema after watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 5.

OVER 5: ENG 4/0 (Cook 2* Root 1*) Pattinson finally finds some swing ("always under the sofa, always, always") but Cook gets bat on this and turns it through mid-wicket for a single. England trailed by 65 at the start of their innings. They now trail by, um, 61. Here, Tino Best has tweeted.

OVER 4: ENG 3/0 (Cook 1* Root 1*) Starc almost cleans up Root with a swinging yorker! That wasn't a million miles away from the Peter Siddle delivery that cleaned him up yesterday. This time he jabbed his bat down and just about got a toe on it.

OVER 3: ENG 3/0 (Cook 1* Root 1*) Pattinson's trying to shape the ball back into Cook but hasn't quite managed it yet. Cook plays that over fairly comfortably, before slashing at a wide one and very nearly edging it. Good god, that was an awful shot. Andy Flower would have put him in the cooler if he'd got out like that. Here, some picture goodness for you: Test cricket's latest star.

OVER 2: ENG 3/0 (Cook 1* Root 1*) Big appeal! Root trapped on the crease as Starc swings the ball back into him. It looked to me like it was swinging down leg, but Australia are going to review it. It always looked ambitious, and it was only clipping leg, but it was a little closer than it looked at first glance. Not out is the decision, and Australia have already flung one of their reviews. Maiden over.

OVER 1: ENG 3/0 (Cook 1* Root 1*) Pattinson begins with a no-ball. Cook then gets off his mark with a tucked single off his pads, and Root steals a quick single into the covers.

15.03 Here come Cook and Root. What sort of state of mind will they be in? Pattinson to take the new ball.

15.00 Some of the key points from that innings.

Crash! The final wicket put on 163, which is a Test record.

Batsmen

Teams

Year

163

Hughes/Agar

England v Australia

2013

151

Hastings/Collinge

New Zealand v Pakistan

1972/73

151

Azhar Mahmood/Mushtaq Ahmed

Pakistan v South Africa

1997/98

143

Ramdin/Best

England v West Indies

2012

133

Wasim Raja/Wasim Bari

West Indies v Pakistan

1976/77

Bang! Agar's 98 is also the highest ever score by a Test No11, beating Tino Best's 95 at Edgbaston last year.

Wallop! It came off just 101 balls. Here's his wagon wheel.

Sean McManus writes: "Painful to watch but well played young fella. Mind you, you don’t want the Great White Choke tweeting. Kiss of death."

14.57 Stand by, there's a stat-attack coming your way.

Australia are all out for 280. That's a leadof 65. Phil Hughes, meanwhile, finishes on a fine 81 not out.

WICKET! Agar c Swann b Broad 98 Heads in hands on the Australian balcony. Agar rips his gloves off with a wry smile. That is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. It's been one of the legendary innings in Test cricket, and it comes to an end when Agar finally succumbs to England's carefully-laid bouncer trap and holes out to Graeme Swann at deep mid-wicket.

OVER 64: AUS 278/9 (Hughes 81* Agar 96*) Agar edges past slip for three runs! Cook put the dive in, more for show than anything, as the ball was well past him. A second slip comes in, again more for show than anything. Agar's 96 is now the highest ever score by a Test No11, beating Tino Best's 95 against England last year.

OVER 63: AUS 275/9 (Hughes 81* Agar 93*) Three men out on the fence for Agar. Broad digs it in short, and Agar lets the ball hit him on the arm. Nails. Agar, by the way, is trending on Twitter, which for those of you who rather cock a snook at these things merely means that he's currently being talked about more than One Direction and the new Grand Theft Auto game, which is quite a lot. This from golfing great Greg Norman.

<noframe>Twitter: Greg Norman - Pure guts &amp; determination by Agar. A performance like this can instill fire in the rest of the team. <a href="http://www.twitter.com/CricketAus" target="_blank">@CricketAus</a> needed an injection of will</noframe>

OVER 62: AUS 273/9 (Hughes 80* Agar 92*) Big turn for Swann! They thought that was a catch at first slip, but in fact it just spun so sharply that it evaded Prior and landed in the hands of Cook. If Agar isn't nervous already, that was the over to do it. Just a single, an inside edge that narrowly saved him from being given out plumb LBW.

OVER 61: AUS 271/9 (Hughes 79* Agar 91*) Agar gets a single into the off-side to move to 88. Hughes flicks off his pads for two to bring up the 150 partnership, and then another single to equal the Test record of 151. Broad responds with a bouncer, a good one, and Agar pulls out of it at the last second. Broad tries the bumper again, Agar hooks, and it's a top edge! Catch it, catch it, catch it! It drops safe, just inside the mid-wicket rope, and Agar gets three to bring up a new Test record partnership for the 10th wicket, and move into the 90s. Swann to return.

OVER 60: AUS 264/9 (Hughes 76* Agar 87*) Hughes helps himself to a couple of twos.

Highest last-wicket stands for Australia in Tests

Batsmen

Opposition

Year

147*

Hughes/Agar

England

2013

127

Taylor/Mailey

England

1924/25

120

Duff/Armstrong

England

1901/02

114

Gillespie/McGrath

New Zealand

2004/05

107

Hussey/McGrath

South Africa

2005/06

OVER 59: AUS 260/9 (Hughes 72* Agar 87*) Broad now goes around the wicket to Agar, which I can't believe England haven't tried more. I mean, if a batsman's swinging his arms at everything, it's only sensible, right? Hughes drives straight for four. Pietersen puts in a forlorn dive at mid-off. 31 off 24 balls since lunch.

OVER 58: AUS 253/9 (Hughes 66* Agar 86*) The trouble with pitching it up. Agar loves it pitched up. After pushing a couple of runs into the off-side, he clears his front foot out of the way and smashes a leg-stump half-volley through mid-wicket for four more! "He's nailed on for a century, isn't he?" Bumble cries on the telly. Excellent hexing. Always was a patriot, Bumble.

<noframe>Twitter: Scyld Berry - If Cook could replay the moment, I don't think he would spread his offside field and give Agar one off the mark</noframe>

OVER 57: AUS 247/9 (Hughes 66* Agar 80*) I predict Agar's going to biff his way into the 90s and then get out in a bathetic manner. Run out at the non-striker's end, perhaps, or sawn off by Aleem Dar with no more reviews left. He greets Broad with a low pull through mid-wicket - those Steve Smith comparisons are valid in more than one sense - and then flicks uppishly for four more. This is now Australia's highest ever 10th-wicket stand. Against anyone. Bravo, England!

OVER 56: AUS 238/9 (Hughes 66* Agar 71*) Agar nudges a single off his pads. Anderson bowls too straight to Hughes and allows him to flick two off his thigh. And now four leg byes! Swinging down leg, and Prior can't get across. Nine off the first over after lunch. Great stuff, England!

14.10 Out come the England fielders, followed by the two batsmen. Cook and Root will have expected to be batting by now. These last-wicket stands play havoc with an opener's concentration. Still, there's a wicket to take first. Anderson to begin from the Pavilion End.

14.03 There is just a suggestion - if this picture is anything to go by - that Agar's helmet may be a touch too big for him.

14.00 A colleague of mine has summed things up quite succinctly. "I don't know whether it's high drama or low farce," he said. The question remains: are we watching good cricket or poor cricket? Parts of Jimmy's spell this morning certainly edged towards the former, as did the batting of Ashton Agar and Phil Hughes. But would Steve Finn - to pick out one name entirely at random - have got near the 2005 team? Would Ed Cowan? Is this opera or slapstick?

<noframe>Twitter: Michael Vaughan - Test Cricket is by far the best format...This morning was all the evidence you need..Outstanding drama... Ashton Agar take a bow... <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=Ashes" target="_blank">#Ashes</a>.</noframe>

LUNCH What an astonishing morning's cricket. Quiet start, England not bowling too brilliantly. But then suddenly James Anderson got it reversing, Graeme Swann started ripping it, and Australia collapsed hopelessly, losing five wickets for nine runs in 32 balls. At 117/9, England fancied a really handy lead - until an unbroken stand of 112 between number 11 Ashton Agar and Phil Hughes. Agar becomes the first number 11 to get a 50 on Test debut, and has the highest score by an Aussie number 11. England, in an echo of their efforts against Tino Best last year, bowled too short and lost their focus in the face of a thrilling counter-attack. As it stands, Australia lead by 14 runs.

Let's grab a couple of your emails. I am going to hand you over to Jonathan Liew, who has been at The Oval to watch Ricky Ponting make a century in his last first class game. What a morning!

Marc Gilfoyle: "Given the extended nature of this last stand I suspect there will be some tired aussie viewers down under at the moment praying this kid makes a ton. When will this new sense of torment end?"

Paul Dunn says simply: "What the heck?!"

OVER 55: AUS 229/9 (Hughes 63* Agar 69*) At last England starting to get their act together, a good over from Broad, full and tempting. If only they had been doing that an hour and a half ago. Agar takes a single, Hughes survives the last two and that is lunch.

Sean McManus: "A debutant 19 year old at No.11 making nearly 70. Well done. The English bowlers need a kick up the behind. Shocking."

OVER 54: AUS 228/9 (Hughes 63* Agar 68*) Only one off the Swann over, thank God.

OVER 53: AUS 227/9 (Hughes 63* Agar 67*) Broad gets his first bowl of the day, he's been out there but fielding in some pain when he has to throw. Begs the question, if he's not fit to field, then why's he out there?Anyway, I bet he wishes he hadn't bothered. Width to Hughes. Four through cover. Aussies are ahead. An edge! But there is no second slip. Four. And now a lovely cut from Hughes for a third four. Will this fresh hell never end? The partnership is worth 110.

Peter Rowntree: "Annoying as this last wicket partnership is for England, it shows that the sun is now taking effect at Trent Bridge and that the pronounced movement through the air that happened yesterday is now not happening. Should make the task of england's batsmen in the second innings a lot easier - and there is plenty of time to compile large scores. Not sure why Trent Bridge reacts like this has to be something to do with the proximity of the Trent, but other grounds in the UK are near rivers, for example Worcersterhire - but it is only Trent Bridge which reacts with this prodigious atmospheric movement."

OVER 52: AUS 215/9 (Hughes 51* Agar 67*) Oh my days. Would you believe it? The scores are level. Well batted Australia. Ashton Agar now has the highest Test score by an Aussie number 11.He's pulled Swann away for four and now, even better, he has late cut him for another boundary!

Peter Holland: "Oh dear oh dear, our nailed-on lead of 80-100 has gone down the Swanny so I'm off for a Jimmy then down the pub until this is Finny. Disgruntled of Grimsby."

OVER 51: AUS 207/9 (Hughes 50* Agar 59*) Five runs off the Anderson over, the last one of which gives Phil Hughes his fifty. Well batted. This has got well beyond a joke though - the stand is approaching 100.

Quide liderally smashing it to all parts

OVER 50: AUS 201/9 (Hughes 46* Agar 58*) Swing, spin, it's all the same to Ashton. Now he comes down the track and slams Swann into the stands for six! An elegant two, to boot.

OVER 49: AUS 192/9 (Hughes 45* Agar 50*) It's past 1pm but lunch will be pushed back because there are nine wickets down. Hungry, hot, frustrated England and indeed certain OBOers who are dying for a whizz (too much information? OR NOT ENOUGH?) really, really hope that Anderson can knock one of these. Couple of singles, then a big LBW shout but that was more in hope than expectation. Or desperation in fact. And now he's done it! A thick outside edge for two past the slips gives Ashton Agar a Test match fifty on debut. And he has done it at a run-a-ball. And with proper cricket shots too. A star is born! Boof Lehmann must be loving it.

OVER 48: AUS 187/9 (Hughes 43* Agar 47*) Just a single off the Swann over.

<noframe>Twitter: Jonathan Liew - I'm joking, but Sobers batted No9 on his debut, and he turned out quite good</noframe>

OVER 47: AUS 186/9 (Hughes 42* Agar 47*) Cook has no choice but to turn back to Jimmy and see if he can end this nonsense before lunch. But this pair are enjoying themselves now, and it's shot-a-ball stuff even off Mr Anderson. Agar drives him for three through midwicket. Two down the ground for Hughes, couple of singels and dear me this has really stuck a pin in England's morning balloon. Erm, as it were. That sounds gross.

<noframe>Twitter: Sky Sports Cricket - Benedict getting excited as Agar closes in on 50. No number 11 has ever made a Test 50 on debut. Aus 178-9</noframe>

Steven Griffiths: "Elaine is sadly correct, Andrew Strauss speaks with uniform velocity, I think he has really offered some useful insight but it’s the way he tells ‘em that lacks interest…reminds me of the ‘song’ by the commentators ‘nineteen not out’….’it’s a long slow delivery but that’s just the way I talk..’ or words to that effect obviously doesn’t remind of the song very precisely."

OVER 46: AUS 178/9 (Hughes 38* Agar 43*) Hughes defends gamely against Swann, doesn't really look totally in control but he's still there and (I'm genuinely not taking the mick. Well, I am, but you know...) if he can hang on in there while his partner at the other end, then Aussies could actually get out of this mess with something like first innings parity.

OVER 45: AUS 178/9 (Hughes 38* Agar 43*) Oh man, this is now officially rubbish from my man Finny. Either half-trackers or half-volleys in this over. Agar hooks him for four and then slams a drive through the covers. This is brilliant entertainment, go on Ashton boy. Meanwhile, in another part of town, one RT Ponting has hit a cenutry for Surrey at The Oval! Four overs for 32 runs in this spell. Not good times.

OVER 44: AUS 169/9 (Hughes 37* Agar 35*) A four from Agar off Swann, nicely played through the covers - proper creeekeeet shot, that. That's the fifty partnership. But Agar is well and truly beaten by the last ball of the over.

Peter Holland has emailed in: "Any wagging tail, unless it's Beyonce, I find very annoying, even more so from this bunch of sheep worryers and ostrich pluckers. Come on sort it out, 50 runs more than they really deserve."

OVER 43: AUS 164/9 (Hughes 36* Agar 31*) I was lucky enough to interview Tino Best for Wisden last year after his magnificent 95. Should I get the notepad marked "Great innings by number 11s" out again? Maybe not quite yet, but this Agar is showing a lot of heart and skill as he smashes some filth from Finn away to the midwicekt boundary for four. Come on Finny son. Pitch it up. Two to Agar after a misfield at midwicket.

Elaine returns for another spell at Andrew Strauss: "Yes really Alan! We have Botham and Gower already, the Mogadon Men and they have added Strauss to make a trio of drones. I am not disputing they know what they are talking about, but I just find their voices incredibly boring. Just my personal opinion I know. I love Bumble but bet plenty find him annoying."

OVER 42: AUS 157/9 (Hughes 35* Agar 25*) It's very much a case of BASHton Agar (no?) as he confidently, calmly, gloriously launches Graeme Swann back over his head for a wonderful six. Brilliant stuff from the number 11 on debut.

OVER 41: AUS 151/9 (Hughes 35* Agar 19*) Finny. Agar The Horrible (no?) pulls him away for three. Rides a bouncer well as well. This lad can bat! Maybe he can do batting buddies with some of the lads further up the order.

OVER 40: AUS 146/9 (Hughes 34* Agar 15*) Hughes battling gamely against Swann. Edges low to the left hand of Trott at slip, hard chance? Or actually on the bounce, maybe. Maiden.

OVER 39: AUS 146/9 (Hughes 34* Agar 15*) Anderson needs a break and England turn to Finn. I really like Finny, but he's not quite doing the business so far this morning. Agar drives him for four through the covers, he looks a handy number 11 is what'll I say so far on this limited evidence. Now Hughes pulls a short one for four and, along with three singles, Aussies have snagged a handy 11 runs in this over.

<noframe>Twitter: Dan Lucas - <a href="http://www.twitter.com/alantyers" target="_blank">@alantyers</a> Currently doing my best Phil Hughes impression with the bat against the bee in my room</noframe>

Bibek says: "England is obviously ahead of Australia.If Australia have to bounce back,they must work hard.English bowlers have bowled very well.Now let's see the result." Yes! Let's.

OVER 38: AUS 135/9 (Hughes 28* Agar 10*)STUMPING APPEAL! This is a close one. Hughes cuts a single and obviously trusts Agar to do his bit. Or, you know, maybe he figures that Agar is a better batsman, who knows with this shambles of an Aussie batting line-up. Agar is drawn forward, there's a suggestion of a nick behind, and Prior also has the bails off. This is extremely close, but I think justice is done, really very hard to say but I think he is just about back over the line. JUST. Others in the office disagree and reckon that third umpire Erasmus bottled it. Agar celebrates with a cut that picks out point, and then produces a good lap that brings him four runs.

<noframe>Twitter: Michael Vaughan - Didn't see much of Fred Trueman ... But if he was better than <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JimmyAnderson9" target="_blank">@JimmyAnderson9</a> he must have been a bloody genius.... <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=Ashes" target="_blank">#Ashes</a></noframe>

OVER 37: AUS 130/9 (Hughes 28* Agar 6*) Anderson will be looking to knock this tailender over quickly, or alternatively dismiss Ashton Agar. After Hughes nearly nicks off, Agar produces a nice drive for four runs.

OVER 36: AUS 124/9 (Hughes 26* Agar 2*) Brave, brave Australia have survived a second consecutive over without a wicket, although Phil Hughes did his level best to get out fishing at Swann. Maiden. He cannot get a single, so Anderson can have a crack at Agar.

OVER 35: AUS 124/9 (Hughes 26* Agar 2*) Jimmy Anderson probes at Agar, who defends well enough for three balls. He's got a FC average of 33, albeit in just 16 innings with six not outs. His patience snaps fourth ball, though, and he smears a pull back over the bowler for one. Hughes, figuring that he might as well, pulls for four.

James Anderson's accurate line

Elaine Simpson-Long: "May I assume that the criteria for becoming a cricket commentator on Sky, apart from it being helpful to be an ex England captain, also requires a voice of utter monotony? Welcome to the line up Andrew Straus...." Aw, Elaine. Really?

OVER 34: AUS 118/9 (Hughes 21* Agar 1*) Agar survives his first ball and, perhaps unwisely, takes a single off his second. That was the last ball of the over, and he has pinched the strike.

WICKET! Pattinson lbw Swann 2 Graeme Swann doesn't want to be outdone by his great pal Anderson, and he is producing a spell of spin every bit as good as Jimmy's reverse swing at the other end. With two left-haders to bowl at, he's absolutely all over the Aussies here. Could have had three wickets in this over. First Hughes is hit on the back pad sweeping, and Hawk Eye reckons that it is going over the top. They scramble a leg bye. That brings Patto onto strike, he is soon smacked on the pad. Given not out, because it was sliding down leg. But the third time's the charm for Swann, this is the best lbw shout of the lot, Patto Pattinson hasn't got a scooby against the arm ball, struck on the pad and they don't get more out than that. FOW 117/9

Jon Horsley: "Is it me being jingoistic or is Anderson when he's like this every bit as good as Waqar?"

Dunno about jingoism, but here's Andrew Holgate. "It’s a good job that the risk of the death penalty for returning to Blighty after Transportation doesn’t carry down the family line. Although, after this batting display, the Ozzies might want to stay on here for fear of death by mob back down-under."

OVER 33: AUS 116/8 (Hughes 21* Pattinson 2*) Pongo Pattinson gets a couple, and clings on for the rest of the over against a rampant Anderson, who now has a five-fer.

WICKET! Starc c Prior b Anderson 0 A let-off for Starc in the last over but no escape this time. A full swinging delivery and to be honest a pretty awful tailender's fish from Starc - he's actually a better batsman than this shot suggests - and he has just tickled it behind for a simple keeper catch. So, so hard for Starc though he's come in, Anderson has got the ball reversing and he has no idea which way it is going to go. You just have to salute Anderson, really. Swann will be pleased that his drop in the previous over counted for nothing. FOW 114/8

OVER 32: AUS 114/7 (Hughes 21* Starc 0*) Swann keeps Hughes on his toes at the other end with a maiden.

OVER 31: AUS 114/7 (Hughes 21* Starc 0*) Goodness me, James Anderson really has become frighteningly good at this whole cricket malarkey. Mitchell Starc is the next unfortunate creature on his dissection bench and he's got the left-hander poking third ball, Swann drops a dolly at second slip. That was a poor drop, actually: straight at Swann, low and central.

WICKET! Siddle c Prior b Anderson 1 Oooh, this is good. This is very good. Anderson has got the ball reverse-swinging now, covering it with his hand as he runs up. Produces a snorter, just short of a length, outside off stump, SIddle nibbles at it and Matt Prior takes an excellent low catch. FOW 114/7

OVER 30: AUS 114/6 (Hughes 21* Siddle 1*) Swann is on it today, you can tell right away. He's so dangerous to new batsmen. He finds the outside edge of Siddle's bat and a low edge flies through to Prior, it hits him on the shins, almost impossible to catch that so I am not calling it a drop.

WICKET! Haddin b Swann 1 And G Swann needs just one ball to do Haddin! Big ripper from outside off. Haddin is back when he should have been forward and he is trying to play it too square. Basically he's all over the shop. The ball spins back from outside off and he's bowled. His two-ball vigil is ended. FOW 113/6

<noframe>Twitter: mike selvey - Haddin in. He has scored a hundred in Aus first innings of each of the last two Ashes series.</noframe>

OVER 29: AUS 113/5 (Hughes 21* Haddin 1*) In comes Hadd Braddin. The problem with getting these Aussie batsmen out is that they get better the further you go down the list. Haddin off the mark firsts ball with a single to midwicket. We'll be facing the formidable Piodersiddle any minute now. Anderson unwisely gives Hughes width, and whatever else his failings, he's mustard wide outside that off stump. Cracking cut for four.

WICKET! Smith c Prior b Anderson 53 And Smith's aggression has been his undoing! He has a go at a full, wide delivery from Jimmy and misses. And now a slightly tighter line from Anderson, just a tiny nibble of swing, not a lot and the first ball of the morning that has done anything. A big booming drive from Smith, a thin edge, and Smith's knock is over. FOW 108/5

OVER 28: AUS 108/4 (Smith 53* Hughes 17*) Graeme Swann into the attack. And Piggy Smith carves it through cover, excellent shot youg man and very well batted. It brings up a battling fifty. He's looking to use his feet to Swann, which I think is a good tactic. Swann is no fool though, and I don't think he'll be too sorry to see this aggression.

OVER 27: AUS 103/4 (Smith 48* Hughes 17*) Impressive start from these Aussies this morning. Solid defence from Hughes and then a really nicely timed shot through the offside for four. Not happening for England as yet. Time for a bowling change, I fancy.

OVER 26: AUS 99/4 (Smith 48* Hughes 13*) After a couple of singles, a dreadful ball from Finn, short and wide and Smith clatters that away for four. Finn comes wider on the crease and pins Smith plopping forward, but he's hit outside the line. This is County standard cricket at the moment, not Test class.

OVER 25: AUS 93/4 (Smith 43* Hughes 12*) Even the mighty Jimmy Anderson not quite on the money so far. Nice shot from Phil Hughes to put away a wide ball for four.

Peter Holland: "Are Jimmy and Finny going soft, where are the rib ticklers, the throat ball? It's the bloody Aussies for heaven sake, they expect to get battered."

OVER 24: AUS 88/4 (Smith 42* Hughes 8*) Low quality fare from both bat and ball in this over, sorry to say. Twice Finn loses his line and twice four leg byes are added to the total. In between, a smeary inside edge from Hughes for a single. Also a pulled single from SS.

OVER 23: AUS 78/4 (Smith 41* Hughes 7*) It's Jimmy Anderson. Decent over but not any swing to speak of as yet. Hmm. My early impression is that this looks a very nice day for a bat. Well played by Smith, to be fair, left alone competently. Broad is called upon to do some fielding and winces in pain as he throws in.

<noframe>Twitter: Derek Pringle - Finn to begin, Jimmy to follow and Broady to man up if they fail to do the job</noframe>

OVER 22: AUS 78/4 (Smith 41* Hughes 7*) The first ball of the over, and indeed the third, drift down the legside. Smith defends the fourth, playing around his pad somewhat. Unconvincing defence to the fifth ball, crooked bat, and even the the ball was on a line just outside off, it squirts to midwicket. He pulls the final ball of the over away for three, not quite timed, but good enough. Quiet start from Finny.

10.58 Steve Finn to bowl the first over. He's got three slips in. Smith to face.

10.55 Right then. Steve Smith resumes on 38, Phil Hughes on 7. It seems to be fashionable at the moment to opine that Steve Smith, while not technically quite right, has a lot of heart and a good eye. Can I just say: he's batting at number five for Australia in a Test match. Number five.

10.50 This is a good bit of stattery.

<noframe>Twitter: BBC TMS - Jimmy Anderson is level with Lance Gibbs on 309 wickets and 1 behind Brett Lee. If he goes past both he will go to 23rd on all-time list</noframe>

10.45 Andrew Strauss reckons that Steve Smith is the sort of batsman who is going to get nervy if he cannot get off strike. He feels Smith is impetuous, and would like to see the field up on the one, keeping him pinned down. Having a good start to his Sky career so far, I think. Hard not to like the guy, and he's doing some decent work with the field placings, tractical, technical stuff and making good use of the fact that he knows this team and its strengths as well as anyone.

10.40 We are expecting some swing today. England will fancy their chances of taking this game by the scruff of the neck today. I'll tell you what, I wouldn't be feeling too confident of a Grand Day Out if I had tickets for Sunday.

10.35 I won't state the bleedin' obvious, because many sager heads than mine are doing the job for me with the "this session will be crucial" thing.

<noframe>Twitter: Daniel Brigham - England scored only 18 singles yesterday. There never seemed to be an emphasis on rotating the strike, which is baffling <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=ashes" target="_blank">#ashes</a></noframe>

10.26 James Pattinson on his first ball bouncer/wide yesterday. "We wanted to stamp our authority on the game and let the Poms know that we are here to play." He seems a thoughtful and decent young man: "I have grown up with the likes of Peter Siddle, I have learned a lot from him. I have had a few chats with Glenn McGrath, he keeps it simple, the greatest fast bowler Australia has produced." I was interested by this quote: "We have to play with aggression. We are in a cut-throat industry." As much for the choice of language, I guess.

10.23 Quotes and reaction to the Broad injury fromSteve Finn and Darren Lehmann. Ah, news just coming in about that: Broad has passed a fitness Test and will bowl.

10.20 Looking at the pitch on day one after Cook won the toss and batted, Graeme Swann must have fancied his chances in the fourth innings. If Broad is not right, he might have a big part to play in the second innings of the match.

<noframe>Twitter: Scyld Berry - Sunny today. Trent Bridge is Swann's home ground but not his favourite. He averages 36 here in first-class cricket, and worse in Tests...</noframe>

If you wanted a definition of aerosol bowling you got it with Australia’s opening spell on Day One. From ball one James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc literally sprayed it everywhere.

10.10 Stuart Broad got a nasty blow on the right shoulder yesterday while batting, struck by a James Pattinson bouncer. However, we understand that he should be okay to bowl today. pictures of him warming up on the outfield, although I must say he was grimacing a bit as he rotated and swung that shoulder and arm.

10.05 The best thing I have read this morning on yesterday's play comes from our own Scyld Berry.

It was a great day for Test cricket. It was not a great day of Test cricket.

It was a day when the vast majority of batsmen on both sides misheard the umpire’s call of "Play!" and thought he had said "Charge!"

Officers and men threw themselves into the fray without any thought for their own survival. Only a careful few looked over the parapet first: Joe Root and Jonathan Trott, Chris Rogers and Steve Smith, that was about it.

Emotion overwhelmed reason throughout a sultry day – which is not, of course, the first time it has happened on the opening day of an Ashes series.

10.00 Good morning and welcome to day two of the first Test. Surely it can't be as bonkers as yesterday? 14 wickets, some truly daft batting, the odd good ball. One delivery for the ages, the leg-cutter that Jimmy Anderson bowled to Michael Clarke to dismiss him for a duck and move past Fred Trueman as England's third-highest Test wicket taker. Overall, good entertainment, moderate skill levels. But sometimes that makes for the most enjoyable sporting spectacle, doesn't it?

Weather: there was a lot of cloud at Trent Bridge this morning, but the sun has burned that away. Humid sort of a day but more sunny than yesterday.